COVID affects wheat demand

Wheat futures continued to drift into the end of last week.

UC Davis receives grant to increase dietary fiber in wheat

Diets lacking fiber are linked to health concerns such as colon cancer and heart diseases, but Americans only consume 30 percent of the recommended daily amount of fiber. One way to increase fiber consumption is to produce wheat varieties that contain more fiber. The University of California, Davis, has a received a nearly $500,000 Seeding Solutions grant from the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) to increase the dietary fiber content in wheat products. Bay State Milling, California Wheat Commission and Limagrain Cereal Seeds provided matching funds for a total investment of $959,997. “A small increase in fiber content in refined flour products can translate into a significant boost in the public’s consumption of dietary fiber.” said FFAR Executive Director Sally Rockey. “By developing wholesome food with more fiber, and the same great taste, we can lower the incidence of preventable, diet-related diseases.” Refined wheat flour, commonly known as all-purpose flour, is more popular than whole wheat flour in most industrialized countries, but lower in fiber. To increase fiber in refined flour, UC Davis researchers, led by Jorge Dubcovsky, are investigating ways to increase wheat dietary fiber using modified starch synthesis enzymes. The first generation of varieties with increased dietary fiber in the plant’s starch showed reduced grain yield, making the grain more costly for consumers. Dubcovsky’s team is developing a second generation of wheat varieties with high fiber in the refined flour but with a higher grain yield. Using genetic tools and molecular markers the researchers are identifying genes responsible for wheat yield, quality and fiber content. With this information, the researchers are testing combinations of wheat genetics, environmental conditions and growing practices that encourage high-yield and high-fiber crops. “Most of the refined flour is starch, so the trick is to hide the fiber in the starch,” said Dubcovsky. “We increased the relative amount of ‘r...

Nigerian farmer chooses innovation for healthier crops, better harvests - Alliance for Science

Patience Koku knows better than most the damage that bollworms can cause to a textile industry. A former fashion entrepreneur, Koku watched in frustration as the pests devastated cotton crops across Nigeria, bringing the entire textile industry to its knees. Although the entrepreneurial farmer left fashion years ago to grow rice, soy, maize and vegetables […]

PRESS RELEASE: NWF Announces National Winners for the 2020 National Wheat Yield Contest

Field testing new integrated weed management strategies | AgriLife Today

A Texas A&M AgriLife-led study will research new weed management strategies to reduce weeds and mitigate the increasing herbicide resistance.

Unmanned aerial vehicles help wheat breeders

Washington DC (SPX) Sep 03, 2020 - Breeding programs for crops with limited per-plant seed yield require one or more generations of seed increase to generate sufficient quantities for sowing replicated yield trials. The ability

Sowing the seeds for a better food future in Asia

Covid-19 has reminded humanity of the critical importance of a strong and functioning food system. With a quarter of a billion people facing acute hunger by the end of the year, bold collective...

Texas honey production tops 7.4 million pounds | AgriLife Today

Texas remained sixth in the nation for honey production in 2019, and is home to thousands of overwintering honey bee hives.

Commodity Classic | Commodity Classic Announces Transition to Digital Experience

FOR MORE INFORMATION Cathryn Wojicki (NCGA)636.733.5531 Wendy Brannen (ASA) wbrannen@soy.org Sandra Mason (AEM)920.342.4405 In-Person 2021 Event Will Not Take Place Due to COVID-19 Restrictions ST. LOUIS, MO (October 30, 2020)— Commodity Classic has announced it will transition its annual conference and trade show, originally scheduled for March 4-6, 2021, in San Antonio, Tex., to an alternative digital format. The change was necessary due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new format is expected to be offered the first week in March 2021. “This is about doing the right thing for our farmers, exhibitors, stakeholders and the broader community in terms of health and safety—which is our top priority,” said Anthony Bush, an Ohio corn farmer and co-chair of the 2021 Commodity Classic representing the National Corn Growers Association. “After careful deliberation among our farmer-leaders and industry partners, the COVID-19 restrictions would prevent us from delivering the type of high quality experience Commodity Classic attendees and exhibitors have come to expect and enjoy for the past 25 years.” According to Brad Doyle, an Arkansas soybean farmer and co-chair of the 2021 Commodity Classic representing the American Soybean Association, directed health measures due to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic such as social distancing guidelines would prevent Commodity Classic from conducting the trade show, educational sessions and farmer networking—each of which are hallmarks of Commodity Classic. “Farmers and agribusiness companies rate Commodity Classic highly because of its unique energy, excitement and one-on-one engagement with agribusiness companies and fellow farmers,” he said. “The health and safety restrictions required will simply not allow us to provide a productive in-person event that is in keeping with our 25 years of being the nation’s best farmer-led, farmer-focused ag experience.” The transition of the 2021 Commodity Classic offers an attractive opportunity for farme...